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29. Mary J. Blige f/ Keith Murray "Be Happy (Remix)" (1994)

Producer: Chucky Thompson

Jimmy Spicer's "Money (Dolla Bill Yall)" is the kind of song where even if you don't know it, you still know it. It's got the kind of break that's hardwired into the brains of hip-hop fans, who can hear and it wonder about its origin but still grasp its significance. Spicer's tune isn't built around sample, however. It's actually an original instrumental—one that's been sampled a million times since. For that reason, it's a pretty obvious choice for someone like Mary who's perfected the art of going in on rap beats. -Insanul Ahmed